Mumbai: Malabar Hill’s Shantivan will soon be open for Mumbaikars after being revived as a part of a city-wide green corridor. This newest urban forest, now known as The Nest, is part of a larger initiative to combat the depleting green cover in Mumbai.

On June 5, The Free Press Journal had reported about the RPG Foundation’s plan to redesign Malabar Hill’s Shantivan and Mahalaxmi’s Captain Namdev Lotankar gardens under their initiative The Heritage Project. The revamp of Shantivan is a part of its larger aim of creating a green corridor across the city, specially along Mumbai’s western coast.

The Green Corridor initiative aims to connect existing green and open spaces with newly developed ones. It is believed that these green corridors offer numerous benefits, including enhanced biodiversity, reduced air and noise pollution, prevention of urban heat island effect, and increased water retention.

Spread as an urban forest across 1.2 acres, The Nest is managed by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s D Ward. This biodiverse sanctuary has been revived by The Heritage Project in collaboration with nature:re and BMC. The Nest boasts over 350 plant species, including nearly 200 native varieties, and a thriving fauna and fungi population.

Radha Goenka, founder of The Heritage Project and director of RPG Foundation, said, “Urban spaces like The Nest play a crucial role in preserving the delicate balance of our ecosystem. They inspire a deeper appreciation for the natural world and our place within it. The Nest marks a significant milestone in our vision of creating a greener and more resilient city for future generations.”

However, before its revival, the space had fallen into disrepair, with numerous encroachments, littering, and neglected public infrastructure making it less accessible to visitors. The restoration effort involved carefully selecting native plants and incorporating naturalized areas, creating a stepping stone habitat that connects fragmented ecosystems and supports the migration and dispersal of flora and fauna throughout the city.

A Stepping stone habitat is a small and isolated area that connect larger ecosystems, facilitate the movement of plants and animals across the landscape. These habitats serve as crucial “stepping stones” for wildlife, offering refuge, shelter, food, and water sources, as well as migration corridors.

The revival process involved planting 8,000 new plants and trees, resulting in an ideal 70:30 ratio of native to exotic species. Introduction of native plants ensure conservation of various species of animals, birds, trees, plants, insects, and fungi, allowing them to coexist and interact within a thriving ecosystem.

It also focused on improving the infrastructure using sustainable materials like the toiled facade which is constructed using fallen trees from the city. Stone crete is used to create clearly demarcated pathways, and bamboos are used to refurbish the gazebos. Sensitive lighting is installed throughout the space, and all zones and plant species are clearly labelled to educate visitors.

“Increasing urban green cover to 30% has been linked to a reduction in average city temperatures by about 0.4°C. This decrease is primarily attributed to the shading provided and the cooling effect of evapotranspiration. The Nest in Malabar Hill is one of the initial steps in this project, with plans to expand it to other areas through collaborations with local authorities and corporate partners,” added Goenka.